Yesterday the brackets that hold the y pipe to the chassis, just upstream of the catalyst, broke from rust. I tried to install a new self made brace using galvanized steel material. The adjustment is not perfect, and now I hear the engine growling under acceleration, and I feel the car does not pull as much. It sounds like the exhaust has had a restriction.

I'm thinking it could be the flex joint between the y pipe and the catalyst that is obstructed. I remember seeing a picture from the inside of a bad flex joint. Much decomposing material was obstructing the flex joint. Could that also be my problem? Any other area I should look at?

 

bump - no one?

I'm thinking of installing a Budget Y pipe, and a straight pipe instead of the catalyst. That should take care of it, and also yielding a gain of 20 HP.

 

Sorry, i cant help much but my whole exhaust system is rusty as hell, and when i hit a dip i could here something moving under the car. Its sounds like something is wobbling or moving under there.. ANY IDEAS ANYONE?? The back piece(muffler) is in place but everything else including bolts are rusty as hell !!! Can anyone give em any advice?

 

take pictures of what you did and also of the flex pipe in its current state.

 

rofl if its stock then ya get the after market it worth every penny.

 

I also had the same knocking from under when I hit a dip. This had started last year when I had replaced the b pipe and the muffler. The aftermarket components were not exactly the same fit as the oem. Being approximately 1/2 in close to it, the b pipe was hitting down on the brace located downstream of the resonator, just before the b pipe makes a 90 deg turn to the passenger side.

I solved that problem by shimming the 1/2 inch space between the brace and the section of the b pipe, and clamping the b pipe to that brace with a 3 inch clamp. Now the b pipe is tightly fastened to the brace, instead of coming down knocking on it.

I'll get some pictures taken for the flex joint. The metal wires forming the braid are in bad condition. I can see the inner pipe under the steel wire braid.

 

Just pull that OEM **** off there. And that brace; it is only there to act as a failsafe in case your exhaust completely rusts off. If its a problem just remove it.